Q&A oin clogged septic system filters or septic media filters:

This article series discusses the diagnosis and repair of clogging of various types of septic effluent filter systems and graywater filter systems to protect the septic drainfield or drywell system from damage.

Q&A About Clogged Septic Tank Filters or Graywater Filters

These questions & answers about clogged septic filters were posted originally

at SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING SIGNS - you will want to review that k checklist of septic tank filter trouble-signs.

Septic effluent leaks at a septic filter ahead of the septic tank

During another drain cycle, I noticed water coming out of the pipe that enters the green tank.

I noticed water bubbling up (during the washing machine drain cycle) prior to entering the septic tank. I dug the dirt out and found a couple of pipes entering a green plastic tank (appears the waste enters this before the septic tank).

I ran the washing machine again, and during the drain cycle, I heard air escaping and very little fluid from the pipe where it enters the green plastic tank.

It did not appear that the pipe was glued where it entered; should it be? If not, what should I do? On 2017-12-03 by Joe

Answer by (mod) - Types of filters on septic systems & meaing of water coming out of the the green septic filter tank.

There are several common filters or traps used on septic systems.

1. A lint filter or trap installed on a graywater line such as a washing machine drain to keep lint out of the septic system, extending its life
2. A septic effluent filter installed on the outlet end of the septic tank, used to prevent small floating solids from flowing out into and clogging the septic soakaway or drainfield.
3. Special filters used on aerobic septic systems - detailed at AEROBIC SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING
4. A grease trap may be found on commercial installations such as at restaurants or restaurant kitchens - typically found in the building at the drain line serving that work area.

A septic filter ahead of the septic tank should be installed only on a graywater line, such as a washing machine drain, enroute to the septic tank.

(A filter on the main sewer line would of course obstruct solids like feces and toilet paper and so would not allow them into the septic tank, blocking the whole system).

Check the little green tank to see if it is a washing machine lint filter that needs cleaning.

Would a toilet backup be related to a septic filter or septic system failure or clog?

My toilet on the first floor overflowed with clear water, enough to flood the first floor.

It finally stopped once i shut the main coming into the house and plunged the toilet.

I had the septic people come to clean filter and empty the tank. What are the chances this was septic related? or just a clog in the line? Thank you On 2018-08-09 by Monique

Reply by (mod) -

I can't say, Monique but certainly there's a difference between overflow of toilet fill water and sewage backup. Neither will be sanitary since the fill water that overflows comes out through te toilet bowl, but there could be 2 underlying problems: a clogged toilet drain (start by having the drain checked and cleared) AND a fill that kept on filling way too long - you had to shut off the water supply.

Clear the drain then have the septic tank inspected for signs of blockage such as high sewage levels.

by Monique

If it were sewage back up, would it present as clear water?

That is, if the septic filter were "clogged" would it overflow clear like that? Thank you soooo much for your time.

My insurance company is telling me they won't cover damages 'because it is all septic related' & no one has even come out or taken the time to actually see what the real problem was.

by (mod) - if septic filter were clogged would effluent run clear? A clogged septic filter can cause building sewage / drain backups.

Pretty remarkable that your insurance company is diagnosing the problem when no one has looked at your house.

It sounds to me like you need a plumber on site. I'm sorry but I'm getting increasingly confused by the question so I'm reluctant to speculate further.

A sewer or plumbing backup and leak might appear to be "clear" water depending on just what had been flushed down drains right before the backup or leak experience.

And if your septic system includes, as it seems, a filter at the septic tank, more likely that's at the septic tank outlet end, intended to prevent solids from flowing into and clogging the septic soakaway or drainfield.

A clog at that outlet septic filter would indeed ultimately lead to a septic or sewage backup into the building.

How can you tell if a septic tank filter is bad (clogged)?

What is a normal level for the effluent tank? and how can you tell a filter is bad? - On 2018-05-05 by Dennis Carter

Reply by (mod) -

Normal septic tank wastewater level for a gravity type septic system is that the top of the septic effluent is just at bottom of the septic tank outlet pipe. The top of the floating scum layer may be a bit above that point.

If the septic tank outlet filter is clogged it will cause abnormally high levels of sewage effluent in the tank.

So a simple visual inspection made at the septic tank inlet or outlet end or at the septic outlet filter itself can answer that question.

How do I fix frequent clogging of my septic tank filter?

My septic Tank filter is clogging up frequently. It looks like seeds or chaff of seeds blocking it.

The alarm goes off lately every two to three weeks and I have to go out and pull and clean the filter. Any ideas on what is causing this?

My thought is possibly we are eating whole grain products e.g. bread or wild rice where the chaff does not deteriorate. I've has the tank pumped and it still happens. - On 2017-08-20 by hsadler

by (mod) - septic Tank filter is clogging up frequently. It looks like seeds or chaff of seeds

Seeds or chaff: I'd look for

- a septic tank that has gone too long without pumping

- an opening allowing debris to fall into the tank (also unsafe)

I wouldn't have thought seeds eaten in bread would clog a septic filter.

A more-likely explanation is that either the septic tank has not been pumped often enough (high levels of scum and sludge reduce the tank net free area) or it is too small for the average daily wastewater flow into the tank.

Watch out: If a septic tank is too small or has too small a net free area incoming wastewater keeps the tank agitated - the solids and scum don't have time to coagulate at the top scum layer or fall into the bottom sludge layer.

Instead they would flow out into and ruin the drainfield, but where a savvy designer has included a septic tank outlet filter, those same floating solids clog the filter.

I would first check out the condition of the tank scum and sludge, next compare the tank size to the wastewater inflow - see EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME
and

see SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE
and for a more technical view of sludge and scum thickness

see
MEASURE SCUM & SLUDGE https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Level_Measurements.php

Venhuizen, David. "Decentralized Wastewater Management." Civil Engineering 61, no. 1 (1991): 69.

Excerpt: The bed surface might clog. ... Covering the sand filter beds protects them from such things as falling leaves or wind—borne seeds. ...

- this is not your situation but it's one of the few close references.

Another sign of septic effluent filter clogging: gurglilng at sink drains mistaken for a house drain blockage

Another sign of effluent septic filter clogging is gurgling in your sinks. Thinking it was a partial clog in the main house plumbing, used drain cleaners and/or augers, and come to find out it was the septic filter instead. On 2017-01-15 by Will

Reply by (mod) -

Will thanks so much for the comment. I'll add this note to our gurgling noise diagnosis for plumbing.

I dropped my septic filter into the septic tank; now what?

I accidentally dropped my filter with handle into tank when cleaning.
What should I do? On 2016-12-12 by George

Reply by (mod) -

George,

You should immediately buy a new septic tank effluent filter to match the lost parts. Install the new clean septic filter so that you continue protecting your drainfield from blovckage.

Then, at your next septic tank cleaning (pump-out) you should mention that drop to the septic pumping contractor and ask her to retrieve the fallen parts when the tank is pumped and cleaned.

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Continue reading  at SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING SIGNS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Septic Filter Articles

• AEROBIC SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING
• FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER
  • GRAYWATER FILTERS
  • MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS
  • SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING SIGNS
  • SEPTIC FILTER MAINTENANCE
  • SEPTIC FILTER / GRAYWATER FILTER SOURCES
  • SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, RESIDENTIAL
• GRAYWATER FILTERS
• PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS
• SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA
• SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING SIGNS
• SEPTIC FILTER MAINTENANCE
• SEPTIC FILTER / GRAYWATER FILTER SOURCES
• WHAT CAN GO INTO TOILETS & DRAINS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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